Production Number sequence

[Chuck Lutz]

Thanks Shelly. Like I said I've be researching the cars like crazy and followed a things that Barry had online and got this forum. Interestingly enough, I've never join any forums before and I'm still figuring out how it all works. By the way, Your car and mine are only 5 numbers apart. I guess they were built in order, right? Mine is C56C2287.

[Barry Wolk]

I would have thought so but I've just learned that the serial number has little to do with production order. Your Production Oreder, available at the Benson Ford Research Library would have the number on the PO.

I just learned that although #1120 is what you would think was the 131st car made based on my car's serial number of 1126 and P.O. #137. I've just learned that #1120's P.O. is actually #136, the car before mine was made. Not 6 before.

Lowell Domholt theorizes that the P.O. # matches the engine number stamped into the block, just behind the distributor. Can anyone verify this? Mine looks like #137, but I'm not sure. Should have checked while the engine was out.

I am tryng to get Phil Skinner, Collector Car Market Editor for the Kelley Blue Book, to stop in and join our group.

In my search for #1120 I posted on the aaca.org web site. Phil Responded with these numbers. I think you all will find these interesting.

Barry: One might think that logically when a order was placed, the chassis number would be issued. However, in the automotive world of production, logic rarely takes place. The following list are the Mark II unit numbers from 1110 to 1135 followed by their order numbers.

1110-126; 1111-131; 1112-134; 1113-143; 1114-132; 1115-Not on File; 1116-142; 1117-143; 1118-135; 1119-139; 1120-136; 1121-149; 1122-158; 1123-153; 1124-147; 1125-138; 1126-137; 1127-176; 1128-159; 1129-163; 1130-154; 1131-211; 1132-152; 1133-150; 1134-167; 1135-161.

Also, the delivery dates are all askew if you look only at the chassis (VIN) number unit sequence.

I also have found a number of orders that were cancelled, so that if you lined up the order numbers there would be plenty of gaps.

However, your documentation about 1120 and your car 1126, being damaged in transport are priceless and your theory about those cars being diverted to H&E makes perfect sense! Any other questions, feel free to contact me. Phil

[Chuck Lutz]

Thanks Barry. I'm going to crawl between the fenders.. push my head between the battery and the distributor and see if I can find that number. This history is so amazing but one big question always comes to my mind. Yes, I understand that the generally accepted production total is somewhere around 3000 for both 56 and 57 but is there any guess as to the cars that remain .... in one condition or another?

[Don Henschel]

FYI: I just dug out a letter from Lowell Domholt dated Aug.27 1999 (how time flies!) and in his letter He wrote, "When convenient, please furnish your engine number, as stamped on the top rear near the distributor. For your car I expect the number to be 3391-982=2409 (or very close to2409)." Mine is 2409:D So I would say it would be safe to say I got the original engine. He probably explained the 982 and what it meant, but that was 10 years ago. My production number for this car is also 2805.
Also included in his letter other than a list of parts and services was very detailed info about the car interior and upholstery. I was told he has done a great deal of research on interior materials etc. A big thank you to Lowell for the info he passed onto me!

[Don Henschel]

Chuck (by the way, welcome aboard!)
I just rechecked engine serial location and mine is aprox. 1 inch behind the tin lifter valley cover, centered between the throttle/transmission linkage spring anchor bracket bolted onto the back of the block with 2 bolts and the distributor housing where it enters the block. I can see it standing beside the car holding a bright light directly behind the air cleaner. I tried to upload a picture showing where it is but that failed. The numbers are 1/4 in size.

[Chuck Lutz]

Lowell Domholt theorizes that the P.O. # matches the engine number stamped into the block, just behind the distributor. Can anyone verify this? Mine looks like #137, but I'm not sure. Should have checked while the engine was out.

I found this number behind the distriburtor but I'm not sure that's it.

[Chuck Lutz]

This might be a better view for location.

[Barry Wolk]

It looks like the stamped numbers say 1305. Your serial number is 1287. Add 12 pre-production cars to that and you have 1299. The 6 number differential is probably due to engines being sent into the field as replacements.

[Chuck Lutz]

I didn't notice the "stamped" number until you mentioned it. I thought it was the cast number.

Serial #? The vin is 2287

Yes, it looks like 1305 this photo is a bit better.

[Barry Wolk]

Yes, but they started with 1001.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Am I blind? Coz it looks like 3015 to me. :confused:

[Barry Wolk]

Yer blind. 1305

[Nick DeSpirito]

I t looks like it reads ECU6015A :eek:

[SLK]

This has been an interesting experience. I've learned that I must be blind and that I need to clean my engine...:)

[Nick DeSpirito]

Ben, is that your engine? It reads ECU6015A too. Guys, am I looking at the wrong set of numbers???

[SLK]

Yes, that's my engine. I must be looking at the wrong number too.

[Barry Wolk]

Yes. The numbers you are looking at are the cast numbers. Adjacent to that are a set of STAMPED numbers.

[Barry Wolk]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG00088-20090902-1818.jpg

[Nick DeSpirito]

Ahhh, for a minute, I thought I was going crazy. The ECU is the part # for the block.